by Daya Daniels
Vashti wiggles her toes in the sand. “And it’s better that way?”
“Yes, it’s better that way.” I fiddle with a long lock of her hair, adoring the white two-piece bikini she’s wearing that shows off her curvy body perfectly. I run a finger along her thigh admiring the rose vines that still tint her skin and bite my lip at the sensation of her soft skin against my fingertips. Wishing at the same time that I could paint the blue sky above with her hopes and dreams, wondering if any of them will come true for either of us.
They will.
They will.
They will.
I won’t allow myself to believe anything contrary to that.
CHAPTER FOUR
Vashti
THE WEEKS HAVE ZOOMED by…
We’ve been working on this massive engine for just as long.
Banks is spending the night with Matilda. He groaned about that and complained and complained the entire ride to Matilda’s house that he wasn’t going to be able to be at the garage today to hang out and to play with Pete. Banks exited the car with a long face and a bad attitude even though I promised I’d pick him up first thing in the morning.
After class today, I came directly here to help Nevada rebuild this big ol’ metal thing in front of me that must weigh at least five hundred pounds.
So far in this process, there have been no fires, floods or explosions.
Regardless of how many times things hadn’t gone right.
On a few occasions my calculations weren’t correct and various measurements with the intake manifold were off. We worked to correct them over and over until everything was right.
So much pride surges through when I look at this shiny hunk of metal that’ll soon be sitting beneath the hood of the Mustang once it’s tested and we’ve decided it’s running properly.
Arching my brows, I run a hand over the hood scoop that will help with the air intake on this bad girl once she’s on the road and rolling free.
I trace a finger over the notes in my book.
The two major components of a superbly functioning engine are air and fuel, ie., improving air flow will greatly impact performance and the way the vehicle conserves fuel.
My fingers are soon crawling back over the engine. I stop and peer at the cylinders where compression will take place. It’s where the entire process presses together all the crazy molecules under a ridiculously high pressure. Without compression, this thing will not operate, so we must make sure we get it right.
The cylinders are shiny and silver and super clean since Nevada had spent hours polishing them up, showing them so much love.
I never knew a woman could be so in love with a machine.
Until I started falling in love with this metal monster myself.
A tiny laugh leaves me right before I spin around and get back to my notes.
And in the last few weeks, of course, I’d learned to change at flat tire under Nevada’s direction. Not as hard as it looks. But certainly, something every gal should know how to do on her own if she ever had to.
I’ve learned so much in class and during the time I’ve been in this garage with Nevada. It all only reaffirms the love I’ve always had for cars. Only now, I understand the mechanics of it all better since I’m hands-on outside of class.
If only all this learning could get me out of the Chicken Shack!
Eventually…
Tame Impala’s “Runways, Houses, Cities, Clouds” echoes from the iPod dock.
I hum along to the music as I flip through my notes which tell me if we bolt in a high flow exhaust, thing baby should sing to the heavens. I wipe the sweat from my forehead with my sleeve, let out a breath and scan the low-lit garage.
Nevada’s head is buried beneath the hood of the Mustang.
Ash is perched in the ratty chair next to the beautiful car. She yawns dramatically. “How’s it looking under there, Nevada?” She shoots up to stand and marches over to where Nevada is working.
“It’s looking really good, I think.” Nevada stands straight, drops the spanner on the table next to the car and growls. “I think it’ll be another week until this thing is running properly.”
“Good stuff.” Ash taps Nevada on the shoulder and winks at me. “I think you two make a good team.” She strolls about the place. “I would love to have helped you with this engine, Nevada, but Syd has me up to my nostrils in cars, as you can see.” She gestures with her hand at all the vehicles crammed in here and the two already up on the hydraulic lift.
“Yeah, I know. We have our hands full.” Nevada wipes her face with a towel.
Ash gives Nevada a funny look. “Syd hasn’t asked what this baby is for?” She taps on the car’s shiny red exterior.
“I told her I’m selling it and that it’s a special order.” Nevada’s eyes go big.
“You, professional liar, you.” Ash laughs.
Nevada folds her arms across her chest. “Well, you know if I told Syd the truth about this car she’d shit an entire state and probably kick me out on my ass.”
Ash snarls. “Probably, but she’s just looking out for you.”
I close my book and stroll over to where they stand.
“I know, but I have to do what I gotta do, Ash.” Nevada inhales. “And I need that money, you know I do. It doesn’t matter what I plan to use it for.”
Ash’s expression is perplexed. “You’re going to give Megs fifty fucking grand?”
Nevada tips her chin high. “I don’t know, but I know I want my car back, Ash.”
Ash picks up a wrench and knocks it against the table. “Nevada Cassia Cruz, your madre would be pissed to know that you’re not using that money for the right things.” She bangs it on the table with each word she utters. “Your madre would want you to use that money to-go-pro.”
“I know, but—” Nevada opens her mouth to speak but doesn’t get any words out.
“Nevada.” Ash throws the wrench down and takes Syd’s face in her palms. “You’re not thinking straight. If you win that money you need to go pro with it, not give it to Megs for-a-car.” She lets go of Nevada’s face. Waving her hands around like a magician, Ash shakes her head. “You know what… I can get a couple of my girls to roll right on by Megs’ place in a few nights and steal the fucking thing right out of her garage. Bam. You’ll have your car back.”
Nevada laughs. “You know that’ll start a fucking war, Ash. And that’s not how we do things. Pinks are pinks. And I lost my car. I have to deal with it. If I want it back, I must pay the price if Megs doesn’t want to race me for it. You know how it is.” Nevada packs her tools away violently, tossing each piece into the tool box. Then she closes the hood of the car. “I figure the drift race will get me seen.”
“You always think that, Nevada, but you’ve been on that circuit for years now and nothing has happened that’s of any added value to your cause.” Ash steps closer to Nevada and gets in her face, almost stalking her.
“I’ll get in the top five. I will,” Nevada grumbles.
Ash sighs. “It’s going to be difficult, Nevada, you know it will be.”
“Well, I didn’t get to where I am today by everything being eeeeeasy…” Nevada clicks off a few of the lights.
Ash’s shoulders fall. “Okay, yes, you’re absolutely right.”
I walk over to the other side of the garage and plop down in a chair, realizing how much my eyes are burning and my back hurts.
Phantogram’s “Black Out Days” echoes from the iPod dock.
When I glance at the clock on the wall, I flinch. It’s two in the morning! The hour for lovers and dreamers and people who can’t manage their fucked-up obsessions.
Nevada and Ash must see the shock on my face.
“This is what obsession does to a gal.” With a smirk, Nevada nudges her chin in the direction of the clock on the wall.
“I guess so.” I pull the elastic out of my hair and sink deeper in the chair.
Syd pokes her head through the door
which is covered in old rock band posters that are peeling away from the thing. Pete shoves his big head in the crack and barks. Syd huffs and runs her fingers through her messy hair. “Are you ladies hungry? I have some leftover pizza in the house if you’d like some.”
“Does it taste like cigarettes?” Nevada whispers.
Ash chokes on her laugh.
I don’t say a word.
Syd smiles and throws me a nod which I guess is code for “hello.”
Ash lifts a hand and smiles. “Syd, yes please. I would actually love a piece of pizza.” She tosses Nevada a wave before she marches across the room, taps me on the thigh and disappears through the garage door.
“Good night, ladies.” Syd smiles. “I’m going to bed.”
“Good night, Syd.” I yawn.
Syd shuts the door and then this space falls into the most soothing mood ever.
“Yeah, good night,” Nevada says softly, barely paying anyone any mind.
I leave my seat and waltz across the room to where Nevada is standing. She doesn’t notice me approaching because she’s far away somewhere lost in thought.
Lingering just behind her, I place a kiss to the exposed skin on her shoulder and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her tight to me.
She exhales loudly and drops her head. “Ash doesn’t understand.” She repeats the words over and over like a mantra but it’s as if they’re only for her to hear. “Ash doesn’t fucking understand, V.”
I hug her close and we stay like that for a while, tight, warm, just right.
Banks’ “Under the Table” echoes from the iPod dock.
“I think I know what you’re thinking, Nevada.” I whisper into the crook of her neck.
“And?”
“And, I’m not sure I can tell you anything about your heart and what it truly wants.” I shove my fingers into her platinum strands.
Her head lowers. “You aren’t going to try and change my mind?” Her delicate chin touches her chest.
“No, because I love my mother so much and when she died all I was left with were pieces of everything she once loved. So, I understand what that car means to you.”
She glances at me over her shoulder.
My heart falls, falls, falls at the tears I find in her eyes. “I know it’s my fault I lost it. But that was because I made a stupid decision when I was being disgustingly arrogant and reckless. But, I want it back, V. I want that car back so fucking badly.”
“I know.” I pull her face to me and kiss her lips, tasting the regret on her tongue. “I don’t know what you’re planning to do but I don’t want you to let go of your dream, Nevada.”
“I have a plan.” She nips at my lips and sucks each one of them into her mouth, then teases my tongue with hers. “And it will work out. It has to.”
“Okay. I know it will.”
“I would carve out a chunk of my heart to get that car back, V.”
“I know.” I run my nose along her gasoline-scented skin, nibbling, sucking, licking and nudge her body up against the file cabinets behind us. The move surprises her. I capture her gasp with a harsh kiss, stealing it away before it has the chance to crackle in the warm air.
I’ve been dying for this, dreaming of it, starved like a supermodel for this woman.
We’ve kissed. We’ve cuddled. We’ve even slept next to each other.
But nothing else.
It’s like we’re fucking buddies or something even though I know otherwise.
And, well, I don’t want to be buddies anymore.
I want her, her, her.
Every supple piece of her.
Her entire heart.
All the flesh of the woman who’s melting right in front of me.
“V.” Nevada pants against my open mouth. “V.”
Yes.
Yes.
Yes!
Warm breaths are shared. Eager bodies collide. Hot eyes meet.
Need.
Want.
Desire.
Her hands are all over me, in my hair, on my skin, stripping me out of the T-shirt I’m wearing as I shimmy out of my shorts. My fingers undo the snaps of her overalls. They fall to the floor as we slow-walk over to Nevada’s little corner of this garage, where her single bed is. A moan rolls through me when her black lace panties come into view. My fingers grab at the thin fabric and almost shred it off her body.
Her lips drag along my jawline, over my chin and down my neck to where my pulse thrums wildly, for her, for us, for everything this is.
I gasp when my back collides with the wall.
Nevada’s grays are on fire when they land on me. They peer into my soul, reach far down in my chest and caress my heart. “God, you’re fucking beautiful, inside and out, V, and I mean that.” Her lips slam into mine.
I kiss her back ferociously, struggling to do anything that makes sense. My vision has been rendered useless since it’s obscured by a thick black curtain since my hair is everywhere! Frantically, I brush it away from my eyes and pull Nevada closer.
Mouth parted and panting, she backs away.
I stand straight again, breathing hard.
Nevada bites her lip.
Slowly, I unsnap my bra then wriggle out of my panties. I shiver when the warm air in here collides with my nakedness.
The rotating fan whirs. The music plays. Our hearts pound.
Nevada smiles. “You are incredible, V.” When she steps closer, I rip off the tank top she’s wearing and shove her panties down her thighs, desperate to feel her naked skin against mine.
I run my tongue along the line of her neck and palm her right breast finding it’s a perfect handful. I pepper kisses along her skin, loving her taste, her temperature, the rhythm in which she breathes. It’s all uniquely her.
A gasp floats from her when I draw her nipple into my mouth and suck on it, leaving it sopping wet when I pull away.
“You’re so perfect.” I’m certain my eyes are bigger than Jupiter as I regard this woman with fascination.
I hunger for her.
She offers me her hand.
I take it in mine finding it warm and safe and accepting.
I don’t know exactly what I see in this girl’s eyes for me, but whatever it is, I’ve decided I need it.
A smile races across her lips and parks itself there.
I blush certain I’m flaming red!
The world has shifted in this moment…
And I know I’ll do anything for this girl.
Anyfuckingthing.
Nevada
THE INSATIABLE GIRL IN my tiny bed writhes beneath me.
She smiles.
I press a kiss to her lips and peer into her big brown eyes.
She drags her fingers through my hair and puffs tiny breaths against my chin as her chest rises and falls beneath mine. I lower body to rest on top of hers. A whimper leaves me when I capture her mouth in another kiss that leaves me panting and the spot between my thighs hot and wet and desperate to be kissed.
“I’ve wanted this for so long.” Vashti’s bottom lip quivers.
Me too.
“The wait has been killing me,” she admits.
Me too.
“I thought I was going to die soon without this.”
Me too.
“I want you and not just for tonight or tomorrow or next week. I want you.” Her big beautiful eyes plead.
Smiling, I kiss her pouty lips once more and decorate her skin with them. My fingers curl around her breasts and gently squeeze right before I take her beaded nipple into my mouth and then the other, then do it all over again. I tease them until she’s a whimpering mess and digging into my sides with her fingertips.
I slip my hand between her thighs, finding it all hot.
So scorching.
She burns my fingertips when they make contact with her skin.
Vashti’s hand cups the back of my neck. She yanks me into a vicious kiss that steals my breath away. I kiss her back hard, shovi
ng my thigh between hers, applying pressure in all the right places as she rocks against me and her hips rise to meet mine.
A strangled moan leaves her when she arches her back. I splay my palm against her stomach and kiss her everywhere. My lips slide along her skin, over her belly and down, down, down to her bald pussy.
I part her quivering thighs, licking my lips at how perfect she looks…in my bed, naked and exposed, literally, and how flawlessly she fits into my world.
I slide my hand down between my thighs.
Just a touch.
So simple.
And it has me panting and wanting to consume every sexy centimeter of this woman’s skin.
I drag my nose along the inside of her thigh, hooking my arm around it. She keeps her eyes on me beneath the low lighting in this corner. The shadows fall across her skin perfectly from the dim red emergency light on the wall in here that’s always glowing.
I drag my fingers over my clit, biting on my lip, almost drawing blood.
Vashti moans and parts her toned thighs wider.
An explicit invitation.
Permission…
Almost begging.
I nudge her clit with my nose.
Her pouty lips purse.
She shivers. She quivers. Her body jerks into the mattress and her desperate fingers find their way into my hair. With a moan, I kiss her pussy then slowly draw her clit into my mouth.
The naked woman in my bed almost hits the roof.
She bites back her moan then relaxes.
Breathing hard, my mouth moves to consume more of her. My tongue runs along her pussy lips, sucking and teasing and tasting them.
I fuck myself with my fingers, driving them in.
The sensation of my pussy quivering the same way Vashti’s is beneath my hungry mouth spurs me on. She sighs. She moans. She arches her back, putting her perfect body on display. She’s beautiful. She’s art I could never tire of looking at.
I draw her clit into my mouth slowly.
“Yes, oh god, yesssss.” Vashti sits up partially and squeezes her nipples. Her mouth is gaped when she looks into my eyes as I lick and lap at her flesh.
Moaning, I fuck myself harder.
My tongue flutters over her clit.